Deposition, Secretion, Transport and Oxidation of Fat in Ruminants

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Abstract
Adipose tissue is essential for health since 10 to 80% of the metabolizable energy intake passes through this tissue. Meagerness of dietary fat and dominance of adipose tissue in fatty acid synthesis expands the importance of adipose tissue in ruminants. Before secretion as lipoproteins and circulation to other tissues, fatty acids are esterified to glycerol combined with other lipids plus apoproteins in intestine and liver. Fatty acids are released from circulating lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipase in extra-hepatic organs. Activity of lipoprotein lipase is related to uptake of fat by organs, but assay is complicated by activity modulators in vivo. Fatty acid synthesis is coupled loosely to fattening since fatty acids in adipose tissue can be deposited as triacylglycerol or released for circulation to other tissues for uses including oxidation. Fatty acids are released from adipose depots by fatty acid mobilizing lipase but this activity is not as closely related to fattening as glyceride synthesis. A desirable goal is regulation of glyceride synthesis to obtain the desired fat in milk or meat plus diversion of excess fat to oxidation for energy to support synthesis of more milk or meat. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.